"Tree Line #30"
Shown in Virtual Frame 

"Tree Line #30" 6 x 8" Pastel on Paper
SOLD

This reminds me of a misty morning.  The paper is watercolor paper that has been sanded to accept pastels and give a very soft effect.  I used a sanding block to sand the surface before applying the pastels.

Catching Up

"Pitcher and Rose"
5 x 7" pastel on sanded paper
SOLD

Getting back to a little painting, some in oil and some in pastel.

We've had a life-changing month. On March 4th, my husband went to the doctor for some really troublesome symptoms.  Since then he's been diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer, been in the hospital for five days, and gone through round one of chemo. 

I've had days where I didn't think I could ever paint again, and days where I have longed to paint for my mental health.  Like everything else, in those two extremes are the reality - I will paint when I can.

"Couple of Cherries"
5 x 5" oil on Gessobord
SOLD

Truman Park

"Truman Park"
8 x 10" oil on panel
SOLD

"Truman Park" in virtual frame

I started this painting earlier in the week. As it sat where I could see it for most of the week I decided it had become too "precious", too fussy, too something.  So I attacked it again with the palette knife and "roughed" it up until it lost its preciousness.

It's painted in an impressionist manner with....well...impressions of the bushes, trees and sky.  The goal was to not be afraid of adding color and there are tons of color in this.  I especially like the turquoise in the shadows.

Peach on eBay

"Peach"
5 x 5" pastel on brown-colored sanded paper
SOLD

"Peach" shown in virtual mat and frame

The pastel makes the peach look particularly fuzzy!

Tree Line on Ebay

"Tree Line"
6 x 8" pastel on rust-colored sanded paper
SOLD

"Tree Line" with a virtual frame

"Harbor Lights" went quickly yesterday with the "buy now" option.  It's on its way to TX and a new home with one of my favorite artists.  Many thanks to her!

So "Tree Line" is going on the auction block today.  I've shown with a virtual frame how it might look as a 9 x 12" or 12 x 16" art piece all framed out with double mat, and frame.  You can frame it however you like or I can assist you in the framing.

Pastel on Ebay

"Harbor Lights"
6 x 6" pastel on sanded paper
SOLD

"Harbor Lights" in a Virtual Frame

Time to move the pastels from the inventory, so they are going on Ebay.  "Harbor Lights" is the first.

It is shipped unframed, but I can arrange for framing if you let me know.  It needs to be matted with glass and framed.  Would make a lovely 12 x 12" finished piece.

Adding Color

Work in Progress
8 x 10" oil on panel

5 x 5" oil on panel

I've had a big jump in the last couple of weeks in employing and even understanding color.  I have been reading and studying the work of some wonderful colorists. While I have always loved pure color, I have always wanted to add more color to my work.  

I show these two works as an example of my change in thinking (and I have a long way to go to be successful with using more color in my work.)

The first is a work in progress and I started off with some pretty intense color, you might even be able to see some of the bright blue still showing on the upper right corner which hasn't been finished yet. I've just been adding color adjusting temperatures and values.  Most of it is painted with a palette knife.

The bottom photo is a small abstracted landscape I did around the holidays.  I think I used four colors, blue, white, naples yellow and green.  I did sell it so I'm sure it was appealing to some, but I'm trying to stretch myself.  

Somewhere in between the two will be where I end up, I imagine.

The Big Apple

"The Big Apple"
6 x 6 oil on canvas panel
SOLD

You were thinking NYC?  No, just a big apple.  This is another in my "Scratching the Surface" series.  It didn't start out to be a scratcher, but as I was nearing the end I knew I wouldn't be happy with it until it had those soft edges and texture.

I use an embossing stylus to scratch into the wet paint.

Pinks

"Pinks"
6 x 6" oil on canvas panel
painted with a palette knife
SOLD

Back at the roses again, but this time with the palette knife. It's a sure-fire way to keep them loose.

Blue Pitcher Finished

"Blue Pitcher"
8 x 8" oil on panel
SOLD

I went to bed last night thinking yesterday's start to this painting was very stiff....not much happening with the quality of the paint application.

I woke up thinking I wonder what would happen if I painted the last layers with a palette knife.  Well, I found out.  I actually like it much better and the next one I'll use the palette knife from the beginning...maybe. It's a bit like trying to frost a hot cake.